CDC advisory panel recommends flu vaccine for all Americans

FoodConsumer
February 26, 2010

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) voted Feb 24 to recommend flu vaccine for all Americans aged 6 months and older.

The expanded recommendation will take effect in the 2010-2011 flu season. The CDC says in a press release that the measure is to increase flu immunization and stress that it’s important to prevent flu across the entire population.

ACIP’ early recommended that children aged 6 months through 18 years of age and those who are in close contacts of higher risk persons who already account for some 85 percent of the U.S. population.

The ACIP members believe that all people aged 19 to 49 years of age should be given flu vaccine as the need was evident during the 2009 H1n1 pandemic. Another reason for the universal recommendation is because it can clear confusion in some people who are in the high risk group but not aware of their risk status. Further, the CDC says some people who are not covered in the previous recommendation are actually at higher risk of serious flu-related complications including those who are obese, postpartum women and people in certain racial/ethnic groups.

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